Information recording method, information recording/reproducing apparatus, and information recording medium

ABSTRACT

An information recording method has; 
     a history determination step for determining whether or not a medium being cased and capable of being used for information recording and reproduction has previously been taken out from the case by using an identification section having historical information as to whether the medium has previously been taken out from the case or not; and 
     a verification step for verifying correctness of information recorded always or on condition that a predetermined condition is satisfied when a result of the determination shows that the medium has previously been taken out from the case.

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/413,548, filed Oct. 6, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,452,884, which is adivisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/846,097, filed Apr.25, 1997 which has now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,097,683, issued Aug. 1,2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information recording method, aninformation recording apparatus, and an information recording medium.

2. Related Art of the Invention

In recent years, with an increase in capacity of information apparatusessuch as computers, optical disks have been receiving greater attentionas recording media.

Hereinafter, a conventional optical disk cartridge will be describedwith reference to the drawings. FIG. 14 is a plan view of a conventionaloptical disk cartridge.

As shown in FIG. 14, an optical disk 201 is a recording medium capableof being used for information recording and reproduction. A case 202 isprovided for housing the optical disk 201 therein to protect it fromdirt such as dust and fingerprints. A window 203 is provided on the case202 for enabling information recording and reproduction onto and fromthe optical disk 201 when the optical disk 201 is mounted in aninformation recording/reproducing apparatus. Normally, the window 203 isclosed by a slide shutter. Here we call such case in which the opticaldisk is stored, as a cartridge 204.

Generally in an optical disk 201 which is capable ofrecording/reproducing, if the surface is blemished by fingerprints orduet, the power applied from the semiconductor laser to the recordingsurface becomes lower than an appropriate value, so that the reliabilityof recording markedly degrades.

To avoid the degradation of the reliability, the recording/reproducingoptical disk 201 described with reference to FIG. 14, such as anInternational Organization for Standardization (ISO) data file and amini disk (MD), is cased as described above.

Subsequently, a reproduction-only-type optical disk (not shown) such asa compact disk (CD) and a laser disk (LD) will be described.

Unlike the disk described with reference to FIG. 14, thereproduction-only-type optical disk, on which information is neverwritten by the user, is directly mounted in a reproducing apparatus forreproduction without being cased. This type of reproducing apparatus iscapable of reproduction only from optical disks not being cased.

Consequently, a problem arises that the reproducing apparatus designedfor reproduction only from reproduction-only-type optical disks isincapable of reproduction from the recording/reproduction-type opticaldisk 201 shown in FIG. 14 since the optical disk 201 is stored in thecase 202.

To solve this problem, a cartridge 214 structured as shown in FIGS.15(a) and 15(b) has been devised. FIG. 15(a) is a plan view showing acondition where the optical disk 201 is housed in a case 212. FIG. 15(b)is a plan view showing a condition where the optical disk 201 is beingtaken out from the case 212.

As shown in FIGS. 15(a) and 15(b), the case 212 is provided for housingthe optical disk 201 therein and has a window 203 used for recording andreproduction. Over the window 203, a slide shutter 213 is provided. Anopening/closing door 211 pivotably provided at an opening formed at anend of the case 212 is used for taking out the optical disk 201 from thecase 212.

The cartridge 214 thus structured is mountable in reproduction-only-typeapparatuses because the optical disk 201 can be taken out from the case212 by opening the door 111.

In this way, reproduction from the cased recording/reproduction-typeoptical disk 201 can be performed by using reproducing apparatusescapable of reproduction from reproduction-only-type optical disks.

On the other hand, a recording/reproducing system called a jukebox 223is known where a plurality of recording/reproduction-type optical disks201 are housed in a stocker 221 without being cased and arecording/reproducing section 222 performs recording and reproductiononto and from the optical disks 201 (see FIG. 16).

In the jukebox 223, since the optical disks 201, which arefactory-mounted in the stocker 221, are never touched by the user, thesurfaces of the optical disks 201 are hardly blemished by scratches orfingerprints.

Additionally, in the jukebox 223, aside from the optical disks 201factory-mounted in the stocker 221, the user may mount for recording andreproduction in the optical disk 201 taken out from the cartridge 214 asshown in FIG. 15.

Thus, the cased recording/reproduction-type optical disk shown in FIG.15 may be used for the jukebox 223 structured as described above.

However, the following problems are faced by the conventionalrecording/reproduction-type optical disk from which information can bereproduced by using reproducing apparatuses capable of reproduction onlyfrom reproduction-only-type optical disks:

One problem is that once the optical disk 201 is taken out from the case212, the disk surface is blemished by fingerprints, dust or scratches,so that when the disk 201 is again housed in the case 212 and mounted ina recording/reproducing apparatus for recording, the reliability of therecorded data is markedly degraded because of the blemishes such asfingerprints on the disk surface.

Another problem is that when the conventionalrecording/reproduction-type optical disk is used in the jukebox 223, theoptical disk mounted in the stocker 221 by the user can be blemished,whereas the disks factory-mounted in the stocker 221 are neverblemished, so that the levels of reliability of the recorded data differbetween the former and latter disks.

An object of the present invention is, in view of the problems of theconventional apparatus, to provide an information recording method, aninformation recording apparatus and an information recording medium withwhich the reliability of the recorded data is ever more improved.

On the other hand, while in general, the optical disk capable of beingused for information recording and reproduction cannot be used forrecording when taken out from the case because its surface is blemishedby dust or fingerprints, a special recording/reproducing optical disk,for example, having its surface processed so as not to be readilyblemished has been devised.

Moreover, the types of the case include a type from which the opticaldisk cannot be taken out as shown in FIG. 14 and a type from which theoptical disk can be taken out.

Thus, there are two types of optical disks: a type which can be used forrecording even when taken out from the case and a type which producespoor results in recording when taken out from the case, and there aretwo types of cases: a type from which the disk cannot be taken out and atype from which the disk can be taken out.

As the recording/reproducing apparatus, an apparatus is desired capableof recording and reproduction onto and from both cased disks and baredisks.

An object of a recording method of an information recording/reproducingapparatus of the present invention is to provide a recording method forperforming appropriate recording by identifying the types of the disksand cases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Information recording method of the present invention comprises:

a history determination step for determining whether or not a mediumbeing cased and capable of being used for information recording andreproduction has previously been taken out from the case by using anidentification section having historical information as to whether themedium has previously been taken out from the case or not; and

a verification step for verifying correctness of information recordedalways or on condition that a predetermined condition is satisfied whena result of the determination shows that the medium has previously beentaken out from the case.

An information recording apparatus of the present invention comprises:

history determining means for determining whether or not a medium beingcased and capable of being used for information recording andreproduction has previously been taken out from the case by using anidentification section having historical information as to whether themedium has previously been taken out from the case or not; and

verifying means for verifying correctness of information recorded alwaysor on condition that a predetermined condition is satisfied when aresult of the determination shows that the medium has previously beentaken out from the case.

An information recording apparatus of the present invention comprises:

a stocker for housing therein a predetermined number of media withoutbeing cased; and

means for recording information onto the media by using the stocker,

wherein said media includes a medium factory-mounted in the stocker anda medium mounted in the stocker from outside the stocker, and said mediaeach have a data area for writing thereon data to be recorded and amanagement area for writing thereon management information as to whetherthe medium has previously been outside the stocker or not.

An information recording medium of the present invention comprises amanagement area for writing thereon management information to determinewhether a medium capable of being used for information recording andreproduction is a medium used without being cased or a medium used beingcased.

A recording method of the present invention of an informationrecording/reproducing apparatus for a first informationrecording/reproducing medium which is necessarily cased and a secondinformation recording/reproducing medium which is not necessarily cased,said information recording/reproducing apparatus being capable ofhandling the information recording/reproducing media both when they arenot being cased and when they are being cased,

wherein said information recording/reproducing media each have a mediumidentifying information section indicating whether the medium is thefirst information recording/reproducing medium which is necessarilycased or the second information recording/reproducing medium which isnot necessarily cased,

wherein said case has a case presence/absence information sectionindicating whether the case is present or absent, and

wherein said information recording/reproducing apparatus recognizes acombination of the kind of the information recording/reproducing mediumand the presence or absence of the case by using first detecting meansfor detecting the contents of the medium identifying information sectionand second detecting means for detecting the contents of the casepresence/absence information section, said informationrecording/reproducing apparatus changing a recording mode based on aresult of the recognition to record information onto the informationrecording/reproducing medium or perform after-defect-inspectionrecording or inhibit recording of information.

An information recording/reproducing apparatus of the present inventionis for a first information recording/reproducing medium which isnecessarily cased and a second information recording/reproducing mediumwhich is not necessarily cased, said information recording/reproducingapparatus being capable of handling the informationrecording/reproducing media both when they are not being cased and whenthey are being cased,

wherein said information recording/reproducing media each have a mediumidentifying information section for indicating whether the medium is thefirst information recording/reproducing medium which is necessarilycased or the second information recording/reproducing medium which isnot necessarily cased,

wherein said case has a case presence/absence information section forindicating whether the case is present or absent, and

wherein said information recording/reproducing apparatus has firstdetecting means for detecting the contents of the medium identifyinginformation section and second detecting means for detecting thecontents of the case presence/absence information section, andrecognizes a combination of the kind of the informationrecording/reproducing medium and the presence or absence of the case,said information recording/reproducing apparatus changing a recordingmode based on a result of the recognition to record information onto theinformation recording/reproducing medium or performafter-defect-inspection recording or inhibit recording of information.

Information recording method of the present invention for;

determining whether or not a medium being cased and capable of beingused for information recording and reproducing, has previously beentaken out from the case by using an identification section havinghistorical information as to whether the medium has previously beentaken out from the case or not; and

when a result of the determination shows that the medium has previouslybeen taken out from the case,

for verifying correctness of information after recorded or recordingafter verification of correctness of information always or on conditionthat a predetermined condition is satisfied, or inhibiting therecording, if the medium is a first recording/reproducing informationmedium that is required to use a case at recording, and

for recording normally if the medium is a second recording/reproducinginformation medium that is not required to use a case at recording.

Information recording apparatus of the present invention comprises;

history determination means for determining whether or not medium beingcased and capable of being used for information recording andreproducing, has previously been taken out from the case by using anidentification section having historical information as to whether themedium has previously been taken out from the case or not; and

means, when a result of the determination shows that the medium haspreviously been taken out form the case,

for verifying correctness of information after recorded or recordingafter verification of correctness of information always or on conditionthat a predetermined condition is satisfied, or inhibiting therecording, if the medium is a first recording/reproducing informationmedium that is required to use a case at recording, and

for recording normally if the medium is a second recording/reproducinginformation medium that is not required to use a case at recording.

Information recording medium of the present invention comprises; amedium identifying information area for showing whether a medium isrequired to be recorded with using a case or not.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view for outlining a relationship among aninformation recording method, an information recording apparatus and aninformation recording medium according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of an optical disk according tothe embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a condition where an opening/closing doorof the optical disk according to the embodiment is opened;

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the opening/closing door ofthe optical disk according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective sectional view of an identificationsection of the optical disk according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the structure of arecording/reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7(a) is a schematic sectional view showing a condition where anidentification member is present in the identification section accordingto the embodiment;

FIG. 7(b) is a schematic sectional view showing a condition where theidentification member is absent in the identification section accordingto the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of therecording/reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment and aninformation recording method;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view for outlining a relationship between aninformation recording apparatus and an information recording mediumaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged schematic view showing a physical layoutof a disk according to the embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the structure of arecording/reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of a jukeboxaccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of arecording/reproducing apparatus capable of writing “1” on a diskmanagement area;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a conventional optical disk;

FIG. 15(a) is a plan view showing a condition where a disk is housed ina case;

FIG. 15(b) is a plane view showing a condition where the disk is beingtaken out from the case;

FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing the structure of a conventionaljukebox;

FIG. 17 shows a recording/reproducing optical disk as an informationrecording/reproducing medium according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a first case for housing the opticaldisk therein according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19(a) and FIG. 19(b) are perspective views of a second case forhousing the optical disk therein according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a recording/reproducing optical diskapparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 shows a sequence of a method for identifying therecording/reproducing optical disk according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 22(a)-22(c) show conditions where a case housing an optical disktherein or an optical disk not being cased is mounted in therecording/reproducing optical disk apparatus according to the embodimentof the present invention;

FIGS. 23(a) and 23(b) show a recording/reproducing optical diskaccording to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24 shows a recording/reproducing optical disk apparatus accordingto another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 25 shows a recording/reproducing optical disk according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE DESIGNATIONS

1 optical disk

2 Case

3 Identification section

4 Optical disk

5 Recording/reproducing apparatus

6 Reproduction-only-type apparatus

10 Window

11 Shutter

12 Engagement hole

13 Confirmation hole

14 Opening/closing door

15 Hinge

16 End

17 Opening

31 History determining means

32 Display

33 Selective direction means

34 verifying means

35 Recording means

36 Terminating means

53 Disk management area

71 Read-in area

72 Data area

73 Readout area

74 User area

101 First optical disk

103 First optical disk identification code

104 Second optical disk

106 Second optical disk identification code

107 First case

111 First case identification hole

112 Second case

114 Second case identification hole

116 Turntable

117 Optical pickup

120 Case detecting switch

121 Case identifying switch

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The entire disclosure of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/846,097,filed Apr. 25, 1997 is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view for outlining a relationship among aninformation recording method, an information recording apparatus and aninformation recording medium according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. The embodiment will be outlined with reference to the figure.

(1) In FIG. 1, an optical disk (hereinafter abridged as disk) 1 as amedium of the present invention is a medium capable of being used forinformation recording and reproduction and is housed in a case 2. At apart of the case 2, an opening/closing door (see FIG. 3) is provided fortaking out the disk 1, and an identification section 3 is provided forrecording thereon historical information as to whether the disk 1 hasbeen taken out or not. These members constitute a cartridge 4. Thedetailed structure of the cartridge 4 will be described later.

A recording/reproducing apparatus 5 as an information recordingapparatus of the present invention is an apparatus for recording andreproduction onto and from the optical disk 1 being cased. The detailedstructure of the apparatus 5 will be described later. Areproduction-only-type apparatus 6 is an apparatus for reproduction fromdisks not being cased.

A cartridge 4 a represents a condition where the case 2 is empty withthe disk 1 having been taken out from the cartridge 4. A cartridge 4 brepresents a condition where the disk 1 previously taken out is againhoused in the case 2.

With respect to the arrangement described above, the general flow of anoperation will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

While the user is performing normal recording by using the cartridge 4as shown by the arrow A of FIG. 1, the surface of the disk 1 is neverblemished. In the case of the normal recording shown by the arrow A, theidentification section 3 maintains its initial configuration which issimilar to that at the time of shipment from the factory. When thecartridge 4 is used for the reproduction-only-type apparatus 6, however,the disk 1 is taken out from the case 2 (see the arrow B of FIG. 1)before mounted in the reproduction-only-type apparatus 6 (see the arrowC of FIG. 1). When the user takes out the disk 1 from the case 2, theopening/closing door does not open unless a protrusion of theidentification section 3 is removed, so that a trace indicating that thedisk 1 has previously been taken out is left in the identificationsection 3. Consequently, even though the disk 1 is returned to the case2 as shown by the arrow D, the cartridge 4 b is different from theoriginal cartridge 4 because historical information indicating that thedisk 1 has previously been taken out is added to the identificationsection 3.

According to the embodiment, when such a cartridge 4 b is mounted in therecording/reproducing apparatus 5 for recording, the historicalinformation added to the identification section 3 is detected, so thatthe reliability of the recorded information is improved. For example, inthe recording/reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment, when itis sensed based on the identification section that the disk 1 haspreviously been taken out from the case 2, the contents are displayed.Then, in accordance with the user's direction, whether the informationrecorded just now is correctly recorded or not is verified. When it isdetermined that the information is not correctly recorded, the sameinformation is recorded again.

(2) Finishing the outlining of the embodiment, a detailed descriptionthereof will be provided.

FIGS. 2 to 5 show the structure of the cartridge 4 used for theembodiment. The structure of the cartridge 4 will be described withreference to these figures.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the cartridge 4. Similarmembers to those described with reference to FIG. 1 are denoted by thesame reference designations and will not be described.

In the figure, a window 10 is a window provided on the case 2 forenabling information recording and reproduction when the disk 1 ismounted in the information recording/reproducing apparatus 5. Normally,the window 10 is closed by a slide shutter 11 (see FIG. 3). The slideshutter 11 is not shown in FIG. 2 for ease of understanding of thestructure of the window 10. An opening 17 is provided at an end 16 ofthe case 2 for taking out the disk 1 from the case 2. An opening/closingdoor 14 is pivotably attached by a hinge 15 to close the opening 17. Anengagement hole 12 is a slit provided at an end 18 of the case andengages with a subsequently-described claw 19 (see FIG. 4) provided atthe opening/closing door 14. The case of the present invention comprisesthe case 2 and the opening/closing door 14.

FIG. 2 shows a condition where the opening/closing door 14 closes theopening 17. A condition where the opening/closing door 14 is opened isshown in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the opening/closingdoor 14.

As shown in FIG. 4, the opening/closing door 14 is a substantiallyrectangular plate-form member. The near side of the figure correspondsto the end 16 of the case 2 and is formed to be plane. The far side ofthe figure is the surface which faces the disk 1 when theopening/closing door 14 is closed. The surface is curved in accordancewith the outside shape of the disk 1. The thickness of theopening/closing door 14 corresponds to the height (a portioncorresponding to the thickness of the case 2) of the opening 17. Theclaw 19 is a resilient plate-form protrusion provided at an end surfacealong the width of the opening/closing door 14. When the opening 17 isclosed by the opening/closing door 14, the tip of the claw 19 is engagedwith the engagement hole 12 of the case 2. The engagement is released bypushing the tip of the claw 19 toward the far side. The identificationsection 3 is provided for recording thereon historical information as towhether the disk 1 has previously been taken out from the case 2 or not.there are provided two identification sections 3, one at each end alongthe length of the opening/closing door 14. FIG. 5 is an enlargedperspective sectional view of the identification section 3.

As shown in FIG. 5, the identification section 3 includes anidentification hole 3 a formed in the opening/closing door 14, anidentification member 3 b provided through the identification hole 3 awith a predetermined gap therewith, and a support member 3 c for partlyconnecting the identification member 3 b to the inner wall of theidentification hole 3 a. As shown in the figure, the identificationmember 3 b is substantially cylindrical and at an end surface thereof onthe upper side of the figure, a cross-shaped recess 3 d is formed foradmission of the bit of a Phillips screwdriver. The case 2 has fourconfirmation holes 13 (see FIG. 2), two in opposite positions on eachsurface. The confirmation holes 13 are provided in positionscorresponding to the positions of the identification sections 3 forallowing the admission of a Phillips screwdriver when theopening/closing door 14 is closed.

With respect to the arrangement described above, an operation to takeout the disk 1 from the case 2 will be described with reference to FIGS.1 to 5.

The general flow of the operation performed by the user to use thecartridge 4 is as described with reference to FIG. 1. The followingdescription will concentrate on the operation associated with theidentification section 3 explained with reference to the arrows B and Dof FIG. 1.

(a) First, to take out the disk 1 from the case 2, the user inserts thescrewdriver into the confirmation hole 13 shown in FIG. 2 to engage thebit of the screwdriver with the recess 3 d (see FIG. 5) and lightlyturns the screwdriver. At this time, the support member 3 c is cut bythe turning effort, so that the identification member 3 b is separatedfrom the identification section 3 and falls out of the case 2 throughthe confirmation hole 13 formed on the opposite side of the case 2.

(b) A similar operation is performed for the other identificationsection 3.

(c) Then, the user inserts a flat-blade screwdriver into the engagementhole 12 of the case 2 and pinches a knob 14 a formed in the center ofthe opening/closing door 14 to pull it outward while pushing the tip ofthe claw 19 toward the far side. Thereby, the opening/closing door 14 isopened as shown in FIG. 3.

(d) With the opening/closing door 14 completely opened, the user slidesthe disk 1 to take it out of the case 2.

Thus, by the identification member 3 b of the identification section 3being removed, historical information indicating that the disk 1 haspreviously been taken out is left as a trace on the case 2.

Therefore, in FIG. 1, as described with reference to the arrow D, eventhough the disk 1 is returned to the case 2, the historical informationindicating that the disk 1 has previously been taken out is left on theidentification section 3. The historical information is detected by asubsequently-described recording/reproducing 5 and used in recording.

(3) Finishing the description of the cartridge 4, the structure of therecording/reproducing apparatus 5 will be described with reference toFIG. 6 which is a block diagram showing the structure of therecording/reproducing apparatus 5.

In the figure, a history determining means 31 detects the condition ofthe identification section 3 of the cartridge 4 with asubsequently-described detecting means to determine whether the disk 1has previously been taken out from the case or not, and outputs theresult of the determination onto a subsequently-described display 32.The display 32 receives the determination result from the historydetermining-means 31 and according to the result, displays a message toconfirm the user's intention as to whether a subsequently-describedverification is performed or not and the result of the verification. Aselective direction means 33 accepts the user's direction as to whetherthe verification is performed or not and outputs the direction to averifying means 34. The verifying means 34 verifies the correctness ofthe information recorded by a subsequently-described recording means 35according to the direction from the selective direction means 33 andoutputs the result of the verification. The verifying means 34 includesan error correcting circuit. The recording means 35 performs not onlynormal recording but also re-recording according to the verificationresult from the verifying means 34. A terminating means 36 terminatesrecording when the verification result from the verifying means 34 showsthat the information is correctly recorded.

The verification result showing that the information is correctlyrecorded includes the following: a case where there are no errorscompared with the original information, a case where there are errorsbut they are all correctable, and a case where there are errors whichare uncorrectable but the number of the uncorrectable errors is within apredetermined range.

Subsequently, the structure of the detecting means in the historydetermining means 31 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7(a) and7(b). A light emitting device 41 a and a light receiving device 41 b fordetecting. the presence or absence of the identification member 3 b aredisposed to be opposite to each other with the case 2 therebetween inpositions corresponding to the positions of the identification member 3b of the optical disk 4 mounted in the recording/reproducing apparatus5. FIG. 7(a) shows a condition where the identification member 3 b ispresent. FIG. 7(b) shows a condition where the identification member 3 bis absent. The light receiving device 41 b can receive light from thelight emitting device 41 a only in the case of FIG. 7(b).

With respect to the arrangement described above, an operation of therecording/reproducing apparatus 5 according to the embodiment will bedescribed with reference to the drawings and an information recordingmethod as an embodiment of the present invention will simultaneously bedescribed. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of therecording/reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment and theinformation recording method.

The following description will concentrate on the operation shown by thearrow E of FIG. 1

Step 1 (ST1): On the identification section 3 of the cartridge 4 b shownin FIG. 1, the historical information indicating that the disk 1 haspreviously been taken out is left as described above. The cartridge 4 bhaving such historical information is mounted in therecording/reproducing apparatus 5 and a direction is given to performrecording.

Step 2 (ST2): When the direction to perform recording is given, thehistory determining means 31 detects the presence or absence of theidentification member 3 b with the light receiving device 41 a and thelight emitting device 41 b (see FIG. 7(b)). In this case, since theidentification member 3 b has already been removed, it is determinedthat the disk 1 has previously been taken out from the case 2 and theprocess proceeds to step 3.

When it is determined that the identification member 3 b is present as aresult of the detection of the presence or absence of the identificationmember 3 b, the history determining means 31 directs the recording means35 to perform normal recording. Then, the process proceeds to step 4.

Step 3 (ST3): A message to confirm whether the user verifies theinformation to be recorded or not is displayed on the display 32. Inresponse to the message, the user inputs a direction as to whether toperform the verification or not with the selective direction means 33.When the user inputs a direction to perform the verification, theverifying means 34 directs the recording means 35 to perform recordingwith verification and the process proceeds to step 5. When the userinputs a direction not to perform the verification, the verifying means34 directs the recording means 35 to perform normal recording and theprocess proceeds to step 4.

Thus, since the user decide whether to perform the verification or not,a problem is solved that the recording speed is reduced by alwaysperforming the verification.

Step 4 (ST4): At this step, normal recording is performed by therecording means 35. When recording is completed, the operation isterminated without the verification being performed and the processwaits for the next direction from the user.

Step 5 (ST5): The information the user intends to record is recorded bythe recording means 35 and the process proceeds to step 6.

Step 6 (ST6): The verifying means 34 verifies the information recordedat step 5.

Specifically, (1) the area recorded just now is reproduced, and (2)simultaneously therewith, the error correcting circuit is actuated tocheck the number of errors.

Step 7 (ST7): Whether the number of errors checked at step 6 is within acorrectable range or not is determined by the verifying means 34. Whenthe number is within the correctable range (verification OK), theterminating means 36 terminates recording (step 10). When the number isbeyond the correctable range, the process proceeds to step 8.

Step 8 (ST8): The verifying means 34 checks the number of uncorrectableerrors and determines whether the number is within a predetermined rangeor not. When the number is within the predetermined range, theterminating means 36 terminates recording (step 10). When the number isbeyond the predetermined range, the process proceeds to step 9.

Step 9 (ST9): The verifying means 34 directs the recording means 35 toperform recording again onto the same area or a new area, so that therecording means 35 performs re-recording. When the re-recording iscompleted, the process returns to step 6 to repeat the above-describedprocessing.

Step 10 (ST10): Recording is terminated by the terminating means 36, anda display informing the termination of the recording is provided on thedisplay 32.

The series of operations (steps 5 to 10) performed after recording toverify the recording are also referred to as recording verification.

As described above, according to the embodiment, the reliability of therecorded information is ever more improved.

Subsequently, another embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view for outlining a relationship between aninformation recording apparatus and an information recording mediumaccording to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a blockdiagram showing the structure of a recording/reproducing apparatus asthe information recording apparatus of the present invention. Thestructure of the embodiment will be described with reference to thesefigures.

Referring to FIG. 9, a cartridge 51 is designed so that an optical disk(hereinafter abridged as a disk) 52 can be taken out from the case 51similarly to the cartridge 214 described with reference to FIG. 15.

A jukebox 61 as the information recording apparatus of the presentinvention has substantially the same structure as that of the jukebox223 described with reference to FIG. 16 except the structure of arecording/reproducing apparatus 62 as the recording means of the presentinvention. A stocker 63 is provided for housing a plurality of baredisks therein and is used in recording and reproduction by therecording/reproducing apparatus 62. Disks (hereinafter abridged asdisks) 64 incorporated in the stocker 63 are factory-mounted in thestocker 63 and are never touched by the user. The disk 52 in the stocker63 is a disk taken out from the case 51 and mounted in the stocker 63 bythe user. In FIG. 9, the disk 52 is dotted so that the disk 52 and thedisks 64 are clearly distinguished.

What is important here is that the disks 52 and 64 as the informationrecording media of the present invention each have a disk managementarea 53 for writing management information thereon. The disk managementarea 53 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 10 whichis a partially enlarged schematic view showing a physical layout of thedisk according to the embodiment.

As shown in the figure, on each sector of the disk, a read-in area 71,the disk management area 53, a data area 72 and a readout area 73 areprovided in this order from the inner radius to the outer radius. Thedisk management area 53 and the data area 72 correspond to a user area74.

On the disk management area 53 of the disk 52, “1” is written as dataindicating that the disk has previously been outside the stocker. On thedisk management areas 53 of the disks 64, “0” is written as dataindicating that the disk has never been outside the stocker. Therecording of the data onto the disk managing area 53 will be describedlater.

Examples of the disks which have previously been outside the stockerinclude (1) so-called cased disks to be used or having been used forapparatuses such as normal recording/reproducing apparatuses other thanthe jukebox 61, and (2) so-called non-cased recording/reproduction-typedisks which were initially incorporated in the stocker 63 of the jukebox61 but were taken out and returned to the stocker 63.

Disks, for example, moved between the stocker 63 and therecording/reproducing apparatus 62 in the jukebox 61 are not consideredto have been take out of the stocker because they are never touched bythe user. Therefore, such disks do not correspond to the disks whichhave previously been outside the stocker.

Referring now to FIG. 11, the structure of the recording/reproducingapparatus 62 according to the embodiment will be described.

The recording/reproducing apparatus 62 has substantially the samestructure as that of the recording/reproducing apparatus 5 describedwith reference to FIG. 6 except the structure of a history determiningmeans 81. Therefore, common members are denoted by the same referencedesignations and will not be described.

In FIG. 11, a disk management area reproducer 81 a reproduces datawritten on the disk management area 53 of the disk 52 or 64 set in therecording/reproducing apparatus 62 from the stocker 63. A diskhistorical information determiner 81 b receives the data reproduced bythe disk management area reproducer 81 a to determine whether the diskhas previously been outside the stocker or not, and outputs the resultof the determination to the display 32. In this embodiment, the diskmanagement area reproducer 81 a and the disk historical informationdeterminer 81 b constitute the history determining means 81.

With respect to the arrangement described above, an operation of thejukebox 61 according to the embodiment will be described with referenceto the drawing. FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the operation ofthe jukebox 61 according to the embodiment.

Step 101 (ST101): When one disk is selected from among the disks in thestocker 63 shown in FIG. 9 in accordance with the user's direction andthe disk is automatically set in the recording/reproducing apparatus 62,the disk management area reproducer 81 a reproduces the disk managementarea 53 of the disk.

Step 102 (ST102): The disk historical information determiner 81 breceives the result of the reproduction to determine whether the datawritten on the disk management area 53 is “1” or not. When “1” iswritten, the selected disk is regarded as a disk having previously beenoutside the stocker and the process proceeds to step 103.

When “0” is written, the selected disk is regarded as a disk havingnever been outside the stocker, and the disk historical informationdeterminer 81 b, i.e. the history determining means 81 directs therecording means 35 to perform normal recording. Then, the processproceeds to step 104.

Step 103 (ST103): A message to confirm whether the user verifies theinformation to be recorded or not is displayed on the display 32. Inresponse to the message, the user inputs a direction as to whether toperform the verification or not with the selective direction means 33.When the user inputs a direction to perform the verification, theverifying means 34 directs the recording means 35 to perform recordingwith verification and the process proceeds to step 105 (ST105). When theuser inputs a direction not to perform the verification, the verifyingmeans 34 directs the recording means 35 to perform normal recording andthe process proceeds to step 104 (ST104). The recording verification atstep 105 will not be described since it is the same as that performed atsteps 5 to 10 described with reference to FIG. 8.

Thus, since the user decide whether to perform the verification or not,a problem is solved that the recording speed is reduced by alwaysperforming the verification.

Subsequently, the recording of “1” or “0” onto the disk management area53 will be described with reference to FIG. 13.

In this description, it is assumed that “0” is recorded on the diskmanagement area 53 of the disk incorporated in the jukebox 61 at thetime of shipment from the factory. The recording/reproducing apparatuswhich performs the data recording onto the disk management area 53 isnot the jukebox 61.

Before describing the operation, a disk where “1” is necessarily writtenon the disk management area 53 will be further described. Whether a diskoutside the stocker 63 will be mounted in the stocker 63 in the futureor not is unpredictable. Therefore, for disks capable of being used forboth recording and reproduction, it is necessary to write “1” on thedisk management area 53 regardless of whether they are cased or notunless there is no likelihood that they are touched by the user.

The recording/reproducing apparatus described here has substantially thesame structure as the recording/reproducing apparatus using the opticaldisk 144 of recording/reproduction-type described with reference to FIG.15 except that “1” can be recorded on the disk management area 53 asdescribed above.

Referring to FIG. 13, when a disk is mounted in therecording/reproducing apparatus and the user provides a direction toperform recording, a message to confirm whether to format the disk ornot is always displayed on a predetermined display means (step 201(ST201)). In response to the message, the user inputs, when the disk isa new disk, a direction to format the disk with a formatting selectivedirection means. When a direction to format the disk is input, amanagement information recording means writes “1” on the disk managementarea 53 and at the same time, formats the disk (step 202 (ST202)). Then,normal recording is performed (step 203 (ST203)). When the disk hasalready been formatted, the user inputs a direction not to format thedisk with the formatting selective direction means. When a direction notto format the disk is input, the recording means performs normalrecording (step 203). When the so-called non-cased disk is mounted, thesame operation is performed.

Alternatively, as another example of the recording of “1” or “0” ontothe disk management area 53, the following arrangement may be employed:

When the disks are made for specific purposes such as for jukeboxes andfor other apparatuses, for example, “0” is recorded on the disks forjukeboxes and “1” is recorded on the other disks. This is an example ofthe present invention as claimed in claim 15.

As described above, according to the embodiment, since the recordingverification can be performed in accordance with the historicalinformation of a plurality of disks housed in the jukebox, thereliability of the recorded information is ever more improved and thedifference in reliability between the disks is reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, the disk where “1” is necessarilyrecorded on the disk management area was described as follows:

Whether a disk outside-the stocker 63 will be mounted in the stocker 63in the future or not is unpredictable. Therefore, for disks capable ofbeing used for both recording and reproduction, it is necessary to write“1” on the disk management area 53 regardless of whether they are casedor not unless there is no likelihood that they are touched by the user.

On the contrary, hereinafter, a disk where “1” is necessarily recordedon the disk management area will be described on an assumption differentfrom that of the above-described case.

That is, in the following description, it is assumed that in order toperform recording onto the disk 64 outside the stocker 63, the disk 64must be cased, i.e. that recording cannot be performed unless the disk64 is cased.

More specifically, when the user intends to perform recording onto thedisk 64 not being cased outside the stocker 63, for example, recordingcannot be performed unless the user purchases an unbundled disk case andsets the disk 64 in the disk case.

When recording is performed in this way, “1” is always recorded on thedisk management area 53.

Therefore, for example, whether “1”, or “0” is written onto the diskmanagement area 53 when the disk is formatted may be decided accordingto whether the disk is cased or not when the writing is performed. Inother words, the disk where “1” is necessarily recorded on the diskmanagement area is a disk being cased. The case where the diskmanagement information is written at the time of manufacture will bedescribed later.

Specifically, in the recording/reproducing apparatus, for example, thedetermining means determines whether the disk is being cased or not whenthe disk is formatted. When it is determined that the disk is beingcased, “1” is written on the disk management area 53.

The case where the disk management information is written at the time ofmanufacture will be briefly described. In this case, on the assumptions(1) that the disks are manufactured for specific purposes, for example,for use in jukeboxes and for use being cased, and (2) that the baredisks in the jukebox are never taken out of the stocker for use but thedisks used being cased may be taken out of the case and mounted in thestocker, the disk management information is written based on thefollowing criterion of judgment: On the disks used without being cased,“0” is written as the disk management information, and on the disks usedbeing cased in a case from which a disk can be taken out, “1” iswritten.

The basic operations of the recording/reproducing apparatus and thejukebox for which the disks on which the management information iswritten as described above are the same as those of the apparatusesdescribed with reference to FIGS. 8 and 12. That is, when “1” is writtenas the management information, the recording verification is enabled.Therefore, in such a case, the same advantages as those of theabove-described embodiment are obtained.

While in the above embodiment, a case is described where the selectivedirection means receives the user's direction, the present invention isnot limited thereto. The recording verification may be always performedaccording to the result of the determination by the history determiningmeans.

While in the above embodiment, when the verifying means determines thatthe number of errors is beyond the correctable range, the processproceeds to step 8 to perform the above-described operation, the presentinvention is not limited thereto. For example, the process may beforcefully terminated without proceeding to step 8 to performre-recording. In this case, a message informing that the informationrecorded just now includes errors may be displayed on the display.

While in the above embodiment, the re-recording by the verifying meansis performed on the same area of the disk, the present invention is notlimited thereto. Re-recording may be performed, for example, on anotherarea of the disk.

While in the above embodiment, re-recording is always performed when thenumber of uncorrectable errors is beyond a predetermined range, thepresent invention is not limited thereto. For example, the process maybe forcefully terminated without performing re-recording. In this case,a message informing that the information recorded just now includeserrors may be displayed on the display.

While in the above embodiment, it is assumed that there is only onereference value for the predetermined range of the number ofuncorrectable errors, the present invention is not limited thereto. Forexample, a plurality of reference values of determination may beprovided for the case where the number of uncorrectable errors is beyondthe predetermined range so that according to the number of uncorrectableerrors which is beyond the predetermined range, (1) the process isforcefully terminated, or (2) re-recording is performed onto anotherarea, or (3) re-recording is performed onto the same area.

As is clear from the above, the present invention has an advantage thatthe reliability of the recorded data is ever more improved.

Subsequently, another embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the drawings.

In this invention, recording and reproduction is performed of a specialdisk having undergone a special surface treatment so that recording maybe performed even when the disk is taken out of the case.

Moreover, in this embodiment, when recording is performed of a disk ontowhich recording is not correctly performed when the disk is taken out ofthe case, the above-described history determination is not performed,that is, it is not performed to determine whether the disk haspreviously been taken out of the case or not to change the recordingmode, but recording is inhibited or recording with a condition such asafter-defect-inspection recording or defect-inspecting after recordingis performed.

In the present invention, a case as shown in FIG. 14 from which the diskcannot be taken out is also used.

(First Embodiment)

FIGS. 17(a) and 17(b) show a recording/reproducing optical disk as aninformation recording/reproducing medium according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. In the figure, 101 is a first optical disk forwhich recording is inhibited or recording with a condition such asafter-defect-inspection recording or defect-inspecting after recordingis enabled when it is used singly. The first optical disk has a spiralcontinuous information track 102. At the head of the information track102 is formed a first optical disk identification code 103 functioningas a medium identifying information section.

Reference designation 104 is a second optical disk for which normalrecording is performed even when it has previously been taken out fromthe case, i.e. when it is used singly. The second optical disk 104 hasan information track 105 similar to that of the first optical disk 101.At the head of the information track 105 is formed a second optical diskidentification code 106 functioning as a medium identifying informationsection. The second optical disk for which normal recording may beperformed even when the disk has previously been taken out of the caseis realized, for example, by covering the disk surface with anantistatic coating or surface-treating the disk so that the surface isnot readily blemished by fingerprints.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a first case for housing the opticaldisk therein according to the embodiment of the present invention. Inthe figure, reference designation 107 is a first case in which the firstoptical disk 101 or the second optical disk 104 is housed. The opticaldisk cannot be taken out from the first case 107. Reference designation108 is an opening for inserting therein subsequently-described opticalpickup 117 and disk motor 116. Reference designation 109 is a shutterfor opening and closing the opening 108. Reference designation 109 a isan opener concave formed on the shutter 109. Reference designation 110is a positioning hole engaged with a pin 18 a of asubsequently-described optical disk apparatus to set the case 107 inposition. Reference designation 111 is a case identification holefunctioning as a case identifying information section. The caseidentification hole 111 is closed in the first case 107. A casedetecting switch 120 of the subsequently-described optical diskapparatus abuts a portion on the case surface in the vicinity of thepositioning hole 110 which portion has a function as a casepresence/absence information section of the present invention.

FIGS. 19(a) and 19(b) are perspective views of a second case for housingthe optical disk therein according to the embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 19A shows a condition where the optical disk is housed.FIG. 19B shows a condition where the optical disk is being taken out. InFIG. 19, the same reference designations as those of FIG. 18 denote thesame embers and will not be described. In FIG. 19, reference designation112 is a second case. On the back surface of the second case 112, apivotable opening/closing lid 113 which enables the optical disk to betaken out is provided, so that the optical disk is dismountably mountedin the second case 112. Reference numeral 114 is a case identificationhole for the second case 112 formed in the same position as the caseidentification hole 111 of the first case 107. The case identificationhole 114 is a through hole. The case detecting switch 120 of thesubsequently-described optical disk apparatus abuts a portion on thecase surface in the vicinity of the positioning hole 110 which portionhas a function as the case presence/absence information section of thepresent invention.

There are six combinations of the first and second optical disks and thefirst and second cases, and the recording mode is changed according tothe combinations.

Table 1 shows examples of the combinations. As shown in Table 1, theoptical disk apparatus changes the recording mode according to thecombinations.

TABLE 1 Kind of the Optical Disk Kind of the Case Recording Method 1stoptical disk No case Recording inhibited or after-defect-inspectionrecording 2nd disk 1st case Normal recording 1st optical disk 1stoptical disk Recording inhibited or after-defect-inspection recording2nd optical disk No case Normal recording 2nd optical disk 1st caseNormal recording 2nd optical disk 2nd case Normal recording

Referring to Table 1, for the second optical disk 104, normal recordingmay be performed regardless of the presence or absence of the case. Forthe first optical disk 101, the condition of use differs according tothe presence or absence of the case and the kind of the case. For thefirst optical disk 101 housed in the first case 107, normal recordingmay be performed. This is because the surface of the optical disk ishardly blemished by dust or fingerprints since the disk is never takenout of the case. This condition corresponds to the normal use of theconventional optical disks.

For the first optical disk 101 housed in the second case 112, recordingis inhibited or after-defect-inspection recording may be performed. Thisis because in the case of the second case, the surface of the opticaldisk 101 which may have previously been taken out can be blemished byfingerprints or the like. Therefore, recording is performed after theinformation track is inspected for defects so that recording is madeonto a portion of the information track where there is no defect toimprove the reliability of the recording. When the first optical disk101 is housed in the second case 112, recording is ensured after thedefect inspection because the disk surface is hardly blemished by dustor fingerprints. Needless to say, recording may be inhibited.

When the first optical disk 101 is not housed in the case, recording isnot permitted but only reproduction is performed. Needless to say,after-defect-inspection recording may be performed.

While whether to inhibit recording or perform after-defect-inspectionrecording largely depends on the environment in which the optical diskapparatus is placed, considering the possibility for the disk surface tobe. blemished by dust during recording, it is safer to inhibitrecording.

The condition setting of Table 1 is merely an example and may be changedaccording to the use environment.

Subsequently, the structure of the optical disk apparatus employing theoptical disk structured as described above and the case for housing thedisk therein will be described. FIG. 20 is a perspective view of therecording/reproducing optical disk apparatus according to the embodimentof the present invention. For ease of understanding, portions irrelevantto the present invention are not shown. In the figure, referencedesignation 115 is a base provided with the disk motor 116 having aturntable 116 a on which the first optical disk 101 or the secondoptical disk 104 is placed, the optical pickup 117, positioning pins 118a and 118 b for positioning the first case 107 or the second case 112, apivotable shutter opener 119 pushed by a spring for opening and closingthe shutter 109, the case detecting switch 120 for detecting thepresence or absence of the case, and a case identifying switch foridentifying the kind of the case.

A recording method will be described of an informationrecording/reproducing apparatus based on the arrangement describedabove.

FIG. 21 shows a sequence of an example of the recording method accordingto the present invention.

The information recording/reproducing apparatus first determines whetherthe optical disk is being cased or not. When it is being cased, the kindof the case is determined.

When the case is determined to be the second case, the informationrecording/reproducing apparatus is placed in the normal recording mode.When the case is determined to be the first case, the kind of theoptical disk is determined.

When the optical disk is determined to be the first optical disk, theinformation recording/reproducing apparatus is placed in theafter-defect-inspection recording mode. When the optical disk isdetermined to be the second optical disk, the informationrecording/reproducing apparatus is placed in the normal recording mode.

When the optical disk is not being cased, the kind of the optical diskis determined. When the optical disk is determined to be the firstoptical disk, the information recording/reproducing apparatus is placedin the recording inhibition mode. When the optical disk is determined tobe the second optical disk, the recording/reproducing apparatus isplaced in the normal recording mode.

A specific operation of the recording method will be described withreference to FIGS. 22(a)-22(c). FIGS. 22(a)-22(c) show conditions wherea case housing an optical disk therein or an optical disk not beingcased is mounted in a recording/reproducing optical disk apparatus. FIG.22A shows the first case 107 mounted in the optical disk apparatus. FIG.22B shows the second case 112 mounted in the optical disk apparatus.FIG. 22C shows the first optical disk 101 or the second optical disk 104mounted in the optical disk apparatus.

First, an operation will be described to mount in the optical diskapparatus the first case 107 housing the first optical disk 101 therein.Referring to FIG. 22A, when the first case 107 mounted in anon-illustrated case holder is inserted in the direction of the arrow A,the shutter opener 119 engages with the opener concave 109 a of theshutter 109 to move the shutter 109 in a direction to open the opening108. After the opening 108 is completely opened, the first case 107 islowered by a non-illustrated loading mechanism, so that the positioningpin 118 a is inserted into the positioning hole 110 and the positioningpin 118 b abuts the upper surface of the first case 107 to complete themounting of the first case 107. At this time, the disk motor 16 and theoptical pickup 17 are inserted in the opening 108. and the first opticaldisk 101 is placed on the turntable 116 a. The case detecting switch 120abuts the upper surface of the first case 107 and the case identifyingswitch 121 abuts the case identification hole being closed.

The optical disk apparatus recognizes that the first case 7 is mountedbased on detection signals from the case detecting switch 120 and thecase identifying switch 121. Then, the disk motor 116 is started and theoptical pickup 117 is moved to a predetermined position by anon-illustrated optical pickup transporting means to read the opticaldisk identification code in the information track 2 of the first opticaldisk 101.

By the above-described operation, of the six conditions of use shown inTable 1, the optical disk apparatus recognizes that the disk mounted isthe first optical disk 101 housed in the first case 107 from which theoptical disk cannot be taken out, and switches to the normal recordingmode to record or reproduce information onto or from the first opticaldisk 101. The same is performed when the disk mounted is the first case107 housing the second optical disk 104 therein.

Subsequently, an operation to mount in the optical disk apparatus thesecond case 112 housing the first optical disk 101 therein will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 22B. Since the basic part of theoperation is the same as that of FIG. 22A, only the different part willbe described. The case identification hole 114 of the second case 112 isa through hole, so that the case identifying switch 121 is inserted intothe case identification hole and does not abut the case. Consequently,the case identifying switch 121 of the second case 112 operatesdifferently from that of the first case 107. The optical disk apparatusrecognizes that the second case 112 is mounted based on signals fromboth the case detecting switch 120 and the case identifying switch 121.Then, the optical disk apparatus recognizes that the first disk 101 ismounted by the previously-described operation, and then, switches to theafter-defect-inspection recording mode to record or reproduceinformation onto or from the first optical disk 101. When the secondcase 112 housing the second optical disk 104 therein is mounted, theoptical disk apparatus is placed in the normal recording mode.

Lastly, an operation to mount in the optical disk apparatus the firstoptical disk 101 not being cased will be described with reference toFIG. 22C. When mounted in a non-illustrated case holder, the firstoptical disk 101 is lowered by a non-illustrated loading mechanism andplaced on the turntable 116 a of the disk motor 116. When the firstoptical disk 101 is moved, the shutter opener 119 does not contact thefirst optical disk 101. Since the case detecting switch 120 and the caseidentifying switch 121 are disposed in positions not to abut the firstoptical disk 101, the switches 120 and 121 operate differently fromthose of FIGS. 22A and 22B, so that the optical disk apparatusrecognizes that the optical disk is not being cased. The optical diskapparatus recognizes that the first optical disk 101 is mounted by thepreviously-described operation, and then, switches to the recordinginhibition mode to reproduce information from the first optical disk101. When the second optical disk 104 not being cased is mounted, theoptical disk apparatus is placed in the normal recording mode.

While cases having two different functions are described in thisembodiment, it is needless to say that the same arrangement may beapplied also when there is only one kind of case and when there arethree or more disk functions.

The recording with a condition in the present invention includesafter-recording verification in addition to the above-describedafter-defect-inspection recording.

While a system using a recording/reproducing optical disk is describedin this embodiment, the present invention may be applied to a systemusing an information recording/reproducing medium other than the opticaldisk.

Subsequently, a case will be described where the second implementationof the present invention is applied to the above-described jukebox. Inthe case of the jukebox, since recording is performed only when theoptical disk is not being cased, the setting as shown in Table 2 isconsidered.

TABLE 2 Kind of the Optical Disk Recording Method 1st optical diskRecording inhibited or after- defect-inspection recording 2nd opticaldisk Normal recording

In the case of the first optical disk, since it is unclear whether thedisk was factory-mounted in the jukebox or was taken. out from thesecond case and mounted in the jukebox, it is desired to inhibitrecording or to perform after-defect-inspection recording.

In the case of the second optical disk, normal recording is performed.

Further, when there is a management area in which an identifyinginformation is written for identifying whether the first optical disk isused by normal recording or is used with inhibited recording orcondition recording, the jukebox selects the manner of recording byreading the identifying information.

(Second Embodiment)

Subsequently, another embodiment of the medium identifying informationsection according to the present invention will be described. FIGS.23(a) and 23(b) show a recording/reproducing optical disk according toanother embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, referencedesignation 121 is a first optical disk for which recording is inhibitedor recording with a condition such as the after-defect-inspectionrecording is performed when the disk is not being cased. The firstoptical disk 121 has a spiral continuous information track forinformation recording and reproduction. A label 122 which absorbs lightof a predetermined wavelength is printed on the surface onto which lightis projected from the optical pickup and the surface opposite thereto.The printed portion constitutes the medium identifying informationsection of the first optical disk 121. Reference designation 123 is asecond optical disk for which normal recording may be performed evenwhen the disk is not being cased. The second optical disk 123 has aninformation track similar to that of the first optical disk 121. A label124 which absorbs light of a different wavelength as the label 122 ofthe first optical disk 121 is printed in the same position as the label122. The printed portion constitutes the medium identifying informationsection of the second optical disk 123.

The optical disk apparatus has a light receiving/emitting device 125 asshown in FIG. 24. Light from a light emitting device 125 a is reflectedby the label 122 or 124 to be incident on a light receiving device 125b. The light receiving device 125 b is highly sensitive to the label 122in the vicinity of the wavelength of the light absorbed by the label122.

Consequently, when the first optical disk 121 is mounted, the light fromthe light emitting device 125 a is reflected by the label 122 with thelight of the predetermined wavelength being absorbed, so that the outputfrom the light receiving device 125 b is smaller. In the case of thelabel 124, the absorption of light of the predetermined wavelength issmaller, so that the output from the light receiving device 125 b isgreater. Based on the output level, the optical disk apparatusdetermines whether the disk mounted is the first optical disk 121 or thesecond optical disk 123. Moreover, the labels enable visualidentification of the kind of the optical disk, so that the user iseasily identify the kind of the disk.

(Third Embodiment)

Another embodiment of the medium identifying information sectionaccording to the present invention will be described. FIG. 25 shows arecording/reproducing optical disk according to another embodiment ofthe present invention. In the figure, reference designation 131 is asecond optical disk for which normal recording may be performed evenwhen the disk is not being cased. The surface onto which light from theoptical pickup is projected is covered with a coating 132 to prevent thesurface from being readily blemished by dust or fingerprints. Thesurface absorbs light of a different wavelength from that of the lightabsorbed by the first optical disk.

The optical disk apparatus has a light receiving/emitting device similarto the light receiving/emitting device 125 shown in FIG. 24. Light fromthe light emitting device is reflected by the coating 132 to be incidenton the light receiving device. The light receiving device is highlysensitive to the coating 132 in the vicinity of the wavelength of thelight absorbed by the coating 132. In this arrangement, the sameadvantages as those of the second embodiment are obtained.

As described above, according to the information recording/reproducingmedium identifying method of the present invention, for variousconditions of use where the information recording/reproducing mediahaving different functions are used being cased or without being cased,the information recording/reproducing medium may be used under apredetermined optimum recording/reproduction condition, so that thesystem using the information recording/reproducing medium may beextended while the reliability of the recording and the compatibilitybetween systems are ensured. Thus, the present invention is highlyadvantageous.

Further an embodiment of another present invention is described.

In this invention, recording and reproduction is performed of a specialdisk having undergone a special surface treatment so that recording maybe performed even when the disk is taken out of the case.

Further in the embodiment, when recording is performed of a disk ontowhich recording is not correctly performed when the disk is taken out ofthe case, the above-mentioned history determination is performed, thatis, it is performed to determine whether the disk has previously beentaken out of the case or not, to change the recording mode according tothe determination. For example, recording is inhibited or recordednormally or recorded with a condition such as after-defect-inspectionrecording or defect-inspecting after recording.

That is the present invention. is such method for determining whether ornot a medium being cased and capable of being used for informationrecording and reproducing, has previously been taken out from the caseby using an identification section having historical information as towhether the medium has previously been taken out from the case or not;and

when a result of the determination shows that the medium has previouslybeen taken out from the case,

for verifying correctness of information after recorded or recordingafter verification of correctness of information always or on conditionthat a predetermined condition is satisfied, or inhibiting therecording, if the medium is a first recording/reproducing informationmedium that is required to use a case at recording, and

for recording normally if the medium is a second recording/reproducinginformation medium that is not required to use a case at recording.

And the present invention is such apparatus having

history determination means for determining whether or not a mediumbeing cased and capable of being used for information recording andreproducing, has previously been taken out from the case by using anidentification section having historical information as to whether themedium has previously been taken out from the case or not; and

means, when a result of the determination shows that the medium haspreviously been taken out form the case,

for verifying correctness of information after recorded or recordingafter verification of correctness of information always or on conditionthat a predetermined condition is satisfied, or inhibiting therecording, if the medium is a first recording/reproducing informationmedium that is required to use a case at recording, and

for recording normally if the medium is a second recording/reproducinginformation medium that is not required to use a case at recording.

Meanwhile when a result of the determination does not show that themedium has previously been taken out from the case, the normal recordingis executed.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information recording method for use with amedium and a case comprising the steps of: (a) determining whether themedium contained in the case has previously been removed from the caseby using an identification section for identifying whether the mediumhas previously been removed from the case; and (b) verifying correctnessof information recorded always or on condition that a predeterminedcondition is satisfied when a result of step (a) indicates that themedium has previously been removed from the case, wherein a selectivedirection step is provided for accepting a selective direction as towhether the verification is performed or not, and said predeterminedcondition is the selective direction.
 2. An information recording methodas claimed in claim 1, wherein said medium is an optical disk and saididentification section is provided in the case.
 3. An informationrecording method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said result of step (a)is displayed outside of the case.
 4. An information recording method asclaimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: (c) forcefullyterminating a subsequent operation or re-recording the information whenit is verified that the recorded information is incorrect in step (b);and (d) terminating the recording when it is verified that the recordedinformation is correct in step (b).
 5. An information recording methodas claimed in claim 2, wherein said result of step (a) is displayedoutside of the case, a selective direction step is provided foraccepting a selective direction as to whether the verification isperformed, and said predetermined condition is the selective direction.6. An information recording method as claimed in claim 2, furthercomprising the steps of: (c) forcefully terminating a subsequentoperation or re-recording the information when it is verified that therecorded information is incorrect in step (b); and (d) terminating therecording when it is verified that the recorded information is correctin step (b).
 7. An information recording method as claimed in claim 3,further comprising the steps of: (c) forcefully terminating a subsequentoperation or re-recording the information when it is verified that therecorded information is incorrect in step (b); and (d) terminating therecording when it is verified that the recorded information is correctin step (b).
 8. An information recording apparatus for use with aninformation medium and a case comprising: history determining means fordetermining whether the information medium contained in the case haspreviously been removed from the case by using an identification sectionhaving historical information as to whether the information medium haspreviously been removed from the case; and verifying means for verifyingcorrectness of information recorded on said information medium i) alwaysor ii) on condition that a predetermined condition is satisfied when anoutput from said history determining means indicates that theinformation medium has previously been removed from the case, andselective direction means for accepting a selective direction as towhether the verification is performed, and said predetermined conditionis the selective direction.
 9. An information recording apparatus asclaimed in claim 8, wherein said medium is an optical disk and saididentification section is provided in the case.
 10. An informationrecording apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said output of thehistory determining means is externally displayed.
 11. An informationrecording apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising: forcefultermination/re-recording means for forcefully terminating a subsequentoperation or re-recording the information when it is verified that therecorded information is incorrect by the verifying means; andterminating means for terminating the recording when said verifyingmeans verifies that the recorded information is correct.
 12. Aninformation recording apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein saidoutput of the history determining means is externally displayed,selective direction means is provided for accepting a selectivedirection as to whether the verification is performed, and saidpredetermined condition is the selective direction.
 13. An informationrecording apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising: forcefultermination/re-recording means for forcefully terminating a subsequentoperation or re-recording the information when it is verified that therecorded information is incorrect by the verifying means; andterminating means for terminating the recording when said verifyingmeans verifies that the recorded information is correct.
 14. Aninformation recording apparatus as claimed in claim 10, furthercomprising: forceful termination/re-recording means for forcefullyterminating a subsequent operation or re-recording the information whenit is verified that the recorded information is incorrect by theverifying means; and terminating means for terminating the recordingwhen said verifying means verifies that the recorded information iscorrect.